Washboard



Jan. 27. 1925.

l 1,524,441 H. T. LAUGHTER WASHBOARD Filed April -so, 1925 2 Smets-sheet g Wiesses.'

H. T, LAUGHTER wAsHBoARD Filed April 30, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 27, 1925,

UNITED STATES HARRY 'I'. LAUGHTER, F FLOYDADA., TEXAS.

WASHBOARD.

Application iled April 30, 1923. Serial. No. 635,499.

T0 all whom, t may concer/n:

Be it known that l, Hanni.' T. LAUeI-rrna, a citizen of the United States, residing at Floydada, in the county of Floyd and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washboards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved washboard construction.

An object is to simplify and improve the existing art by constructing a washboard comprising a metal body and wooden sides and connecting means therefor adapted to force the sides toward each other to cause the edges of the body to enter said sides, and thereby associate the parts in any easy, expeditious, strong and efficient manner.

Another object is to produce a washboard whose body is constructed of a single sheet of metal having its edges sharpened and thereafter bent or otherwise shaped to prod uce spaced rubbingy surfaces, and a soap holding plate having a substantially semielliptical head, and wherein wooden sides are employed and means for connecting the sides and body adapted to draw these elements toward each other to cause the sharpened edges of the body to enter the sides, and thus effectively associate these parts.

A still further Vobject is .to produce a washboard comprising a metal body whose edges are sharpened and which defines spaced ribbed or corrugated rubbing surfaces`r a plate extending centrally from one end thereof and which terminates in a semielliptical head, and wooden sides for the body, means of a particular and peculiar construction being disposed between the rubbing surfaces to properly space and reinforce the same. while means is passed through the sides7 the head and between the rubbing surfaces of the body for forcing the sides toward each other to cause the sharpened edges of the body to enter said sides, said means also holding the reinforcing and spacing means in proper relation with respect to each other and with respect to lthe rubbing surfaces of the body.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will present .themselvesk as the nature of the vinvention is better understood, the invention consists in the improvement as hereinafter described. aar-rite@ ,Claimed in the drawings which accompany and form part of this application Figure l a front elevation of a washboard in accordance with my improvement, parts being broken away and parts being in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view .2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4t is a fraginentary perspective view of one of the reinforcing and spacing ele ments for the `rubbing surfaces of the body of the washboard.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fraK verse sectional view better illustrating the manner in. which the sharpened edges 0f the metal body are arranged in one of the wooden sides.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sec tional view through one of the rubbing sur faces of the body.

The body of my improvement is formed from a. sheet of metal, and the sides are of wood. The metal sheet7 before being shaped to constitute the parts hereinafter to be described, has its edges sharpened and the wooden sides are water soaked so that the sharpened edges of the body will enter the said sides when the connecting means between the body and sides are adjusted.

The sides 1 are of the usual construction in which the grain of the wood runs longitudinaly.

The metal body has one of its ends shaped to provide a substantially semi-elliptical top or head portion 2. From the under -flat face there is centrally extended the plates 3 that constitutes the side wall of the soap holder. The plate 3 may be formed with serrations at its sharpened edges, and the said plate is bent at an outward angle to provide a ledge 4 on which a bar of soap is designed to rest. The plate 3, above the shoulder 4 is provided with spaced transverse openings 5 whereby saponaceous fluid can flow from one to the other face of the said plate. From the ledge or shoulder 3 the plate is extended to provide a ribbed or corrugated rubbing surface 6. The surface 6 has its lower end bent at an inward angle, as at 7., and from thence at an opposite or outward angle, as iat 8. From the yangle portion the plate c011- y,et,ituting the body is lci in tin d to provide on the line gmentary trans- "with spaced a second rubbing surface 9 which is, of course, arrangedparallel with the rubbing surface 6. The corrugations on the surface 9 are spaced a greater' distance apart than those on the surface 6, and the upper end of the said surface 9 is bent inwardly, as at l0, toward the ledge or shoulder 4. The ledge l0 preferably underlies the ledge 4 and is soldered or otherwise suitably connected thereto. The confronting surfaces of the hea-d 2 may be likewise connected.

y The water soaked sides l are provided aligned openings, the upper openings being arranged to align with the hollow head 2 of the body and toreceive a'bolt ll therethrough. This greatly facilitates in properly arranging' the metal body centrallybetween the sides and thereafter other bolts l2 are passed through the remaining openings in the sides and are also Apassed* between the rubbing` surfaces 6 and 9 of the body. It is to be undersood that aside from these openings, the sides l are not channeled or grooved for the reception of the edges ofthe metal body of the wash board. All of the bolts are engaged by nuts 13 respectively, but before the nuts are applied there is arranged between the rubbing' surfaces 6 and 9 ofthe body spacing and reinforcing' means of a particular and peculiar construction. This means comprises flat wooden blocks 14 which have forced into the ends thereof corrugated portions l5 provided on vflat metal strips 16. The wooden members lelare in contacting engagement with theronfronling faces of the surfaces 6 and 9. By roferei'ice to the drawings it "will be seen that three bolts l2 are employed, and `that I make use of two of the spacing and reinforcing elementsjyfOne of these elements is arranged between the lower and intermediate bolt l2, the other being a1.'- ranged between the intermediate and upper bolt, and bytliis arrangement it will be noted that the saidI spacing' ,and reinforcing elements are y iectively supported. The nuts 13l are now screwed home on the bolts and bind against washers 17 to .cause the latter to contactwith one of the sides to draw both of thesidesfl toward each other and thus force the sl'iarpened edges of the body into the sides l. In this manner it will be noted easily, quickly, and effec- *that4 the :body `is tively',- secured in the sides and held from im'ove'ment inV any direction therefrom.v

, In "my washboard construction a solid 'filler to provide areinforcement between the rubbing surfaces is not desirable, as the same must :be cutto a nic'ety; it being understood that the reinforcement Vdoes not enter'the Wooden sides but firmly contactsV therewith when the parts are associated. Vith my reinforcing` construction, the outer wooden members may contact the sides of the board and guide the metal body when its sharpened edges enter the board upon the screwing home of the nuts on the bolts. The movement of the sides of the washboard toward each other will exert a pressure against the outer wooden members of the reinforcing means, which pressure will be resisted by the metal stra'ps which connect all of the wooden members of the said reinforcing means, and such resistance may cause a slight springing or bulgingl of the said metal straps. By arranging the reinforcing means between the end and central bolts 12, the bolts are properly guided when passed through the sides and through the metal body of the washv hoard.

It is thought from the foregoing description, that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent` but it is to be umlerstood that lf am not to be confined to the precise structural details herein set forth. and may make such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims without (.leparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having described claim l. In a washboard construction` plain wooden side members, a metal rubbing surface having` sharpened edges interposed between the sides. and adjustable means passing through the sides and the metal rubbing surface for forcing the sides under the invention, I

pressure toward each other to cause the sharpened edges of the. rubbing surface to enter said sides. whereby said edges are cinbedded in and secured against outward movement' on the sides.

2. In a washboard construction` plain soft wooden side members` a hollow metal bodv 'providing spaced rubbing surfaces interposed between the sides. and said body havingr its edges sharpened` adpistable means passing through the sides and through the metal body for forcing the sides under pressure toward each other to cause the sharpened edges of the body to enter said sides so that the vedges will be embedded in and secured against movement on the sides` and combined spacing and reinforcing means in the body and resting` on and held from vertical movement by the adjustable meansV passing through the body, said spacing and reinforcing means comprising wooden blocks and spaced metal strips connecting the blocks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY T. LUGHTER. 

